Darryl Sharpton returns to practice; Arian Foster remains on PUP list

There were two notable returns at Texans training camp Sunday morning. Arian Foster was not one of them.

Foster has been on the Physically Unable to Perform list since the start of camp because of a right calf strain. It was expected he would practice on Sunday, but coach Gary Kubiak said Foster was held out due to a sore back.

Darryl Sharpton (groin) was more fortunate than Foster. The fourth-year linebacker practiced for the first time. He is listed as having a non-football injury but said he suffered the injury while training.

He made several noteworthy plays Sunday. On one he pushed a lineman into the quarterback and forced an errant throw.

“Any time you’re on the football field it’s a blessing,” Sharpton said. “I think I’m a pretty good competitor. I love fighting through the heat and getting on these pads, smashing and banging. I love playing football. I love being back out here.”

Sharpton has not made it through either of the last two seasons healthy. He suffered a quadriceps injury in 2011 and a hip injury in 2012. The Texans have stuck with him through all of it.

Kubiak said the team needs him on the field.

“He brought some intensity to practice,” Kubiak said. “He’s a banger. If he can stay in one piece he can really help this team. He’s a heckuva player. We’ve got our fingers crossed we’re going in the right direction.”

While Sharpton practiced fully, reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt spent time on the back field working out alone because of soreness in his previously injured left elbow.

He said missing Sunday’s team drills was a precaution, but did announce that he will wear the brace for all football activities. He spent the first week of training camp without it.

“I wanted to be smart with it,” Watt said. “I put it through a lot of work in the last week without (the brace). It just got real sore. I worked it a lot, and I worked it really hard.”

Watt dislocated his left elbow last August and missed most of training camp. That did not stop him from piling up 20.5 sacks and winning the league’s top defensive award. He said during the offseason that he never was at full strength in 2012.

He said the brace helped in the long run but that it was mostly a mental edge. He hoped to play without it in 2013 but reluctantly put it on Sunday morning.

“It’s well documented I’m not a fan of the brace, but it’s back for good,” Watt said. “It didn’t really bother me a whole lot (last season). I’m just not a huge fan of the way it looks. I don’t see it being an issue whatsoever.”